Electrical plug and connector



Oct. 31, 1967 R TURK ELECTRICAL PLUG AND CONNECTOR Filed March 3l, 1965 JAMES R. TURK' BY mhmeymmde,

ATTQRNEYS United States Patent O 3,359,587 ELECTRICAL PLUG AND CONNECTOR .lames R. Turk, Solon, Ohio, assigner to Vincent K. Smith, Gates Mills, Ohio Filed Mar. 31, 1955, Ser. No. 444,136 Claims. (Cl. 31h- 71) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosure The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to an electrical plug and connector, and more particularly, to an electrical plug which is adapted to be permanently inconnector which is readily adapted to be connected and disconnected from the plug as desired for supplying electrical power to the motor.

It is often times advantageous to provide an electric motor with a socket member to which the lead lines from a suitable power source may be connected and disconnected through a connector secured to the ends of the lead lines. This is particularly true where the length of lead lines needed for the motor is substantial and varies greatly, depending on the distance of the motor from the power source. An example of this would be a submersible water pump motor which is installed in a well at various levels depending upon the depth of the well.

Of course, the required length of lead lines could be -formed by interconnecting a plurality of shorter lines.

However, this would require the use of a plurality of plugs and connectors, rather than just one, all of which would have to be provided with means for properly orienting the lead lines with respect to the leads of the motor windings to prevent them from being crossed. Moreover, it might be necessary for all of the plug and connector assemblies to be water-tight, especially if used with submersible pump motors and exposed to the weather.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a novel plug and connector, the plug having a unique configuration permitting it to be readily installed on a motor, after which it becomes a permanent part thereof, and the connector having a similarly unique configuration permitting it to be connected and disconnected to the motor windings through the plug.

Another object is to provide such a connector with means for properly orienting the connector leads with respect to the motor windings.

Still another object is to provide such a plug and connector in combination with a motor, wherein the structure of the motor cooperates with the plug to retain the same in place after installation, and cooperates with the connector orienting means properly to orient the connector leads as aforesaid.

A still further object is to provide such a plug and connector in combination with a motor with a novel retainer means for removably retaining the connector in engagement with the plug.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will :become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation View of an electrical plug and connector constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on an electric motor;

FIG. 2 is a substantially vertical section of the plug and connector showing the manner in which they cooperate with various parts of the electric motor taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section of the electrical plug and connector taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the plug and connector of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the plug and connector of FIG. 3 as viewed from the right end thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by way of example an electric motor 1, such as may be used to drive a submersible water pump in a Well and the like, to which there is attached a preferred form of electric plug 2 and connector 3 in accordance with the present invention.

As perhaps best seen in FIGS. 3-5, the body of the plug 2 is preferably made of molded plastic `or similar such material having a substantial height and a narrow width providing a leading face 4 through which there extends three laterally spaced, axially extending bores S for receipt of electrically conductive plug pins 6. The ends of the plug pins 6 extend outwardly beyond both the lea-ding face 4 and the rear face 7 of the electric plug 2, for a purpose which wil-l be fully explained hereafter. The sides 8 of the plug 2 adjacent the leading face 4 taper radially outwardly therefrom to form a tapered leading end 9 which facilitates the entry of the plug 2 into a similarly shaped opening 12 in an end ring 13 surrounding the stator assembly 14 of the motor 1 (see FIG. 2).

Immediately adjacent the trailing edge of the tapered leading end 9 of the plug 2 there is an annular groove 16, the length of which is suflicient to receive the axially inwardly extending lip portion 17 which forms the Wall of the opening 12 in the end ring 13. Accordingly, when the plug 2 is inserted into the opening 12 in the end ring 13, the leading end 9 of the plug 2. will cause the lip portion 17 to tiex radially away from the opening 12 until the shoulder 1S of the groove 16 clears the lip portion f7, after which the lip portion will snap into place into the groove 16 firmly to secure the electric plug 2 in place. Electrical contact between the motor windings 2t) of the stator assembly 14 and the plug pins 6 is established by attaching the leads 21 of the motor windings 2t) to the plug pins 6 prior to installing the plug 2 in the motor.

The lead connector 3 is also preferably molded of a plastic material and is provided with a stepped cavity 22 in one end thereof having a configuration similar to the stepped outer end 23 of the plug 2 to permit the connector 3 to be slid onto the plug 2, but in fluid-tight gripping engagement therewith.

The lead lines 24, which may be operatively connected to a suitable power source, extend into laterally spaced, axially extending openings 25 in the connector 3, such lead lines 24 being held within the openings 25 by tubular metallic sleeves 26 mounted in the openings 25 and firmly gripping the exposed ends 27 of the leads 24, as by crimping the sleeves 26 thereto, for example. As cle-arly shown in FIG. 3, the openings 25 in the connector 3 are in coaxial alignment with the bores S in the plug 2 when the plug 2 is Vdisposed within the stepped cavity 22, thereby permitting the adjacent ends of the plug pins 6 to be received within the bores of the corresponding tubular sleeves 26.

Preferably, the pins 6 have longitudinally extending slots 30 in their walls to impart flexibility to the pins, Iand the inner diameter of the tubular sleeves 26 is slightly less than the outer diameter of the pins 6. Accordingly, when the pins 6 :are inserted into the tubular sleeves 26, such pins are slightly compressed so that they yieldably grip the inner surface of the sleeves 26.

As previously indicated, it is quite important that some means be provided for orienting the lead lines 24 with respect to the leads 21 of the motor windings 2t). Otherwise, the motor shaft 31 may be caused to rotate in a direction opposite to that which is desired. To prevent crossing of the leads, an orienting tab 32 is provided on the outer surface of the connector 3 on its leading end 33, and the end bell 34 of the motor 1 is provided with an opening 35 in coaxial alignment with the opening 12 in the end ring 13 having a configuration similar to that of the configuration of the connector '3, including a notched portion 36 for locating and permitting entry o-f the orienting tab 32. Accordingly, the connector 3 may be inserted through the opening 35 in the end bell 3d into gripping engagement with the plug 2 only when the orienting tab 32 on the connector 3 is in axial alignment with the notched portion 36, thereby ensuring proper alignment of the lead lines 24 with the pins 6 and thus the leads 21 for the motor windings 20- during each assembly.

With the connector 3 properly assembled on the plug 2, the connector 3 may be removably retained in place by a retaining flange 38 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) mounted on the end bell 34 by suitable fasteners 39, such as selftapping screws.

'From the above discussion, it should now readily be apparent that the plug of the present invention may be quickly installed on the motor simply by pushing the :same through an opening therein, after which the plug is rmly held in place and becomes a permanent part of the motor assembly. Moreover, the lead connector may be iquickly and easily connected and disconnected from the motor through the plug without having to worry about whether or not the leads are properly aligned, there being provided a novel orienting means on the connector and motor for ensuring a proper connection every time.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of :the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim `as my invention:

1. In combination, -an electrical plug and connector, said plug comprising a body having a tapered leading end, an annular groove in said body adjacent said tapered leading end, a plurality of axially extending bores in said body, and electrically conductive plug pins disposed in said bores with the ends of said plug pins extending outwardly beyond both ends of said body; said connector comprising an elongated body member having a cavity in one end thereof, a plurality of axially extending bores in v said body member for receipt of the ends of lead lines,

electrically conductive tubular sleeves disposed in said connector bores in electrical contact with exposed ends of said lead lines, the end of said plug opposite said tapered leading end -being disposed in said cavity in said connector with said one end of `said connector located adjacent 4the inner edge of said annular groove in said plug, said bores in said plug .and connector being in co-axial alignment with the ends of said pins projecting into the bores of :said tubular sleeves, said plug pins being hollow Iand longitudinally slotted along their entire length and of a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the bores in said tubular sleeves, whereby said pins yieldably grip said sleeves to establish electrical contact therewith.

2. The combination of claim ll further comprising tab means on said connector body member adjacent the end thereof in which said cavity is provided for receipt in a notch in an end bell of an electric motor to o-rient said connector with respect to the motor windings.

3. In combination, an electrical plug and connector mounted on an electric motor, said plug comprising a body having a plurality of `axially extending bores, pins disposed in said bores with the ends of said pins extending outwardly beyond both ends of said body; said motor including motor windings in electrical contact with said plug pins, and means mounting said plug on said motor; said connector comprising an elongated body member having a cavity in one end thereof, a plurality of axially extending bores in said body member for receipt of the ends of lead lines, means for holding said lead lines in said connector bores, and orienting tab means on said body member adjacent the end thereof in which said cavity is provided; one end of said plug being disposed in said cavity in said connector; said bores in said connector and plug being in co-axial alignment with the ends of said pins projecting into said bores in said connector and in electrical contact with said lead lines; said motor including an end bell having an opening the configuration of which approximates that of the cavity end of said conconnector, including a notched portion for locating and permitting entry of said orient-ing tab means; said connector being inserted through said opening in said end bell with said tab means received in said notched portion for orienting said connector with respect to said motor windings.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for holding said lead lines in said connector bores comprises electrically conductive tubular sleeves disposed in said connector bores land in electrical contact with exposed ends of said lead lines, and the adjacent ends of :said pins which project into the bores of said connector also project into the bores of said tubular sleeves, said pins being hollow and axially slotted and of a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the bores in said tubular sleeves, whereby said pins yieldably grip said ysleeves to establish electrical contact therewith.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said plug body further comprises a tapered leading end and an annular groove adjacent said tapered leading end; and said motor further comprises an end ring member spaced axially inwardly of said end bell, said end ring member having an opening therein in co-axial alignment with the opening in said end bell into which said tapered leading end of said plug is inserted, said opening in said end ring member 'also having an axially inwardly extending lip portion of a diameter slightly less than the maximum diameter of said tapered leading end, said lip portion having a length substantially equal to the length of said groove in said plug and disposed in :said groove firmly to hold said plug on said motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,655,638 10/1938 Allen 339-176 2,265,34ll 12/1941 Borchert 339-73 2,563,762 8/1951 Uline 339-63 2,776,385 l/l957 Modrey 310-71 2,809,361 l0/l957 Woofter 339-128 2,907,973 10/1959' Stevens 339-59 3,210,578 10/1965 Sherer 310-71 3,294,993 `12/1966 Komor S10-7l FOREIGN PATENTS 597,780 5/ 1960 Canada.

MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner.

J. D. MILLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN ELECTRICAL PLUG AND CONNECTOR, SAID PLUG COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A TAPERED LEADING END, AND ANNULAR GROOVE IN SAID BODY ADJACENT SAID TAPERED LEADING END, A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY EXTENDING BORES IN SAID BODY, AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PLUG PINS DISPOSED IN SAID BORES WITH THE ENDS OF SAID PLUG PINS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND BOTH ENDS OF SAID BODY; SAID CONNECTOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER HAVING A CAVITY IN ONE END THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY EXTENDING BORES IN SAID BODY MEMBER FRO RECEIPT OF THE ENDS OF LEAD LINES, ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TUBULAR SLEEVES DISPOSED IN SAID CONNECTOR BORES IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH EXPOSED ENDS OF SAID LEAD LINES, THE END OF SAID PLUG OPPOSITE SAID TAPERED LEADING END BEING DISPOSED IN SAID CAVITY IN SAID CONNECTOR WITH SAID ONE END OF SAID CONNECTOR LOCATED ADJACENT THE INNER EDGE OF SAID ANNULAR GROOVE IN SAID PLUG, SAID BORES IN SAID PLUG AND CONNECTOR BEING IN CO-AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE ENDS OF SAID PINS PROJECTING INTO THE BORES OF SAID TUBULAR SLEEVES, SAID PLUG PINS BEING HOLLOW AND LONGITUDINALLY SLOTTED ALONG THEIR ENTIRE LENGTH AND OF A SLIGHTLY GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE BORES IN SAID TUBULAR SLEEVES, WHEREBY SAID PINS YIEDABLY GRIP SAID SLEEVES TO ESTABLISH ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREWITH. 